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A biometrics authentication device is configured so as to include: a
filter that extracts a plurality of directional features from an input
image; a per-direction directional feature normalization processing unit
that normalizes the plurality of directional features extracted by the
filter; a non-directional feature generating unit that generates a
non-directional feature on the basis of the plurality of directional
features output from the per-direction directional feature normalization
processing unit; a matching processing unit that determines a degree of
similarity between the non-directional feature and a registered
non-directional feature stored in a storing unit; and a determining unit
that determines identity by using the degree of similarity.

This application is continuation application of International Application
PCT/JP2014/058384 filed on Mar. 25, 2014 and designated the U.S., the
entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A biometrics authentication device comprising: a filter that extracts a plurality of directional features from an input image; a per-direction directional feature
normalization processing unit that normalizes, by a computer, the plurality of directional features so as to make a luminance value that corresponds to a palm print smaller than a luminance value that corresponds to a vein; a non-directional feature
generating unit that generates, by the computer, a non-directional feature on the basis of the plurality of directional features output from the per-direction directional feature normalization processing unit; a matching processing unit that determines,
by the computer, a degree of similarity between the non-directional feature and a registered non-directional feature stored in a storing unit; and a determining unit that determines, by the computer, identity by using the degree of similarity.

2. A biometrics authentication method comprising: extracting, by a computer, a plurality of directional features from an input image; normalizing, by the computer, the extracted plurality of directional features so as to make a luminance value
that corresponds to a palm print smaller than a luminance value that corresponds to a vein; generating, by the computer, a non-directional feature on the basis of the normalized plurality of directional features; determining, by the computer, a degree
of similarity between the non-directional feature and a registered non-directional feature stored in a storing unit; and determining, by the computer, identity by using the degree of similarity.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium which records a program for causing a computer to execute a process comprising: extracting a plurality of directional features from an input image; normalizing the extracted plurality of
directional features so as to make a luminance value that corresponds to a palm print smaller than a luminance value that corresponds to a vein; generating a non-directional feature on the basis of the normalized plurality of directional features;
determining a degree of similarity between the non-directional feature and a registered non-directional feature stored in a storing unit; and determining identity by using the degree of similarity.

Description

FIELD

An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a technology for biometrics authentication.

BACKGROUND

In an existing biometrics authentication device, when biological information extracted from a photographed image and registered biological information match each other, identity is determined. The biological information includes features
denoting a palm print, a vein, and the like, and when biometrics authentication is performed by using the feature denoting the vein, the feature denoting the palm print needs to be separated from the photographed image such that as far as possible only
the feature denoting the vein is included in the biological information. As an example of a method for separating the feature denoting the palm print, a method for optically separating the feature denoting the palm print by using a polarizing filter is
known. As another example of the method, a method using plural-wavelength photographing is known.

A biometrics authentication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a filter that extracts a plurality of directional features from an input image; a per-direction directional feature normalization processing unit
that normalizes the plurality of directional features extracted by the filter; a non-directional feature generating unit that generates a non-directional feature on the basis of the plurality of directional features output from the per-direction
directional feature normalization processing unit; a matching processing unit that determines a degree of similarity between the non-directional feature and a registered non-directional feature stored in a storing unit; and a determining unit that
determines identity by using the degree of similarity.

Further, a biometrics authentication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: extracting, by a computer, a plurality of directional features from an input image; normalizing, by the computer, the extracted plurality
of directional features; generating, by the computer, a non-directional feature on the basis of the normalized plurality of directional features; determining, by the computer, a degree of similarity between the non-directional feature and a registered
non-directional feature stored in a storing unit; and determining, by the computer, identity by using the degree of similarity.

Furthermore, a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to an embodiment of the present disclosure which records a program causes a computer to execute a process including: extracting a plurality of directional features from
an input image; normalizing the extracted plurality of directional features; generating a non-directional feature on the basis of the normalized plurality of directional features; determining a degree of similarity between the non-directional feature and
a registered non-directional feature stored in a storing unit; and determining identity by using the degree of similarity.

The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a biometrics authentication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a biometrics authentication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a feature extracting unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a matching processing unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of hardware of a biometrics authentication device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a biometrics authentication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a biometrics authentication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, the image obtaining unit 2 obtains an image of a hand of a subject (S1). As an example, the image obtaining unit 2 is an imaging device, and the image obtaining unit 2 obtains a captured image of a hand of a subject by using a
single-plate image sensor and respective RGB color filters of a Bayer array.

Then, the region specifying unit 3 specifies an ROI (Region Of Interest) that corresponds to a palm of the subject in the image obtained by the image obtaining unit 2 (S2).

The feature extracting unit 4 then extracts a non-directional feature from an image f of the ROI specified by the region specifying unit 3 (S3). In a case in which filtering S is performed on an image f, the term "non-directional" is defined
such that it obtains a result that is almost the same as a result of performing only the filtering S even when image rotation conversion T.sub..theta. or inverse conversion T.sub..theta..sup.-1 of T.sub..theta. at various angles .theta. is inserted
before the filtering S. Stated another way, the term "non-directional" is defined using symbols to be S(f)=T.sub..theta..sup.-1(S(T.sub..theta.(f))) at an arbitrary angle .theta..

The matching processing unit 5 determines a degree of similarity between the non-directional feature extracted by the feature extracting unit 4 and a registered non-directional feature that has been registered in advance and that has been stored
in the storing unit 7 (S4).

The score determining unit 6 determines the identity of the subject according to the degree of similarity determined by the matching processing unit 5 (S5).

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the feature extracting unit 4 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The filter 41 performs Gabor filtering on an input image f of the ROI in eight respective directions .theta. (0.degree., 22.5.degree., 45.degree., 67.5.degree., 90.degree., 112.5.degree., 135.degree., and 157.5.degree.) so as to obtain
respective filter responses (luminance values) as directional features g.sub..theta. (a directional feature g.sub..theta..degree., a directional feature g.sub.22.5.degree., a directional feature g.sub.45.degree., a directional feature
g.sub.67.5.degree., a directional feature g.sub.90.degree., a directional feature g.sub.112.5.degree., a directional feature g.sub.135.degree., and a directional feature g.sub.157.5.degree.). The number of directions .theta. set in the filtering is not
limited to eight, and may be any number that is greater than or equal to two. The filtering is not limited to Gabor filtering, and may be any type of filtering that has a high filter response to a linear dark portion in respective directions .theta. in
the image f.

The point-wise maximum selecting unit 43 generates a non-directional feature g on the basis of the respective directional features go output from the per-direction directional feature normalization processing unit 42. As an example, the
point-wise maximum selecting unit 43 outputs a maximum directional feature max.sub..theta.{g.sub..theta.(i,j)} as a non-directional feature g(i,j) from among the respective directional features g.sub..theta.(i,j) output from the per-direction directional
feature normalization processing unit 42, as expressed by Expression 1. The i represents a position in a horizontal-axis direction of two-dimensional coordinates, and the j represents a position in a vertical-axis direction of the two-dimensional
coordinates, when positions of respective pixels within the ROI are made to correspond to positions on the two-dimensional coordinates. g(i,j):=max.sub..theta.{g.sub..theta.(i,j)},(i,j) ROI Expression 1

The binarizing unit 44 outputs 1 as a non-directional plane feature b(i,j) when the non-directional feature g(i,j) output from the point-wise maximum selecting unit 43 has a positive value, and the binarizing unit 44 outputs 0 as the
non-directional plane feature b(i,j) when the non-directional feature g(i,j) has a value that is not a positive value, as expressed by Expression 2. The obtained non-directional plane feature b is stored in the storing unit 7.

.function..times..times..function.>.times..times. ##EQU00001##

In the description above, the binarizing unit 44 has performed binarization by performing simple thresholding using a constant of 0, but the binarizing unit 44 may perform binarization using a more advanced Adaptive-thresholding scheme.

The skeletonizing unit 45 performs skeletonizing on the non-directional plane feature b so as to obtain a non-directional line feature LF, as expressed by Expression 3. The skel represents skeletonizing. The obtained non-directional line
feature LF is stored in the storing unit 7. The line feature is a linear image. LF:=skel(b) Expression 3

The matching processing unit 5 illustrated in FIG. determines a degree of similarity score between the non-directional line feature LF that has been output from the skeletonizing unit 45 and that has been stored in the storing unit 7 and a
registered non-directional line feature TLF that has been registered in advance and that has been stored in the storing unit 7, as expressed by Expression 4.

The score determining unit 6 illustrated in FIG. 1 determines the identity of the subject when the degree of similarity score is greater than or equal to a threshold.

A luminance value that corresponds to a palm print is likely to be greater than a luminance value that corresponds to a vein. Accordingly, when the respective directional features g.sub..theta. extracted from the filter 41 are normalized, the
luminance value that corresponds to the palm print is smaller than the luminance value that corresponds to the vein in the respective directional features g.sub..theta.. As a result, a non-directional line feature LF generated by using the respective
normalized directional features g.sub..theta. is a non-directional line feature on which an influence of the palm print has been suppressed. This allows the identity of a subject to be determined in a state in which an influence of the palm print has
been suppressed, and consequently authentication accuracy can be improved. Stated another way, the biometrics authentication device 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can prevent the FAR from increasing even when a method for
physically separating a feature denoting the palm print from an image fails to be applied. Further, even when melanin is abnormally deposited, in particular, in a palm of a subject, and the palm print is included in a large portion of a directional
feature g.sub..theta., the identity of the subject can be determined in a state in which an influence of the palm print on the non-directional line feature LF has been suppressed, and consequently the FAR can be reduced.

Further, when the respective directional features g.sub..theta. extracted from the filter 41 are normalized, the luminance value that corresponds to the vein is greater than the luminance value that corresponds to the palm print in the
respective directional features g.sub..theta.. Accordingly, a non-directional line feature LF generated by using the respective normalized directional features g.sub..theta. is a non-directional line feature in which the vein has been emphasized.
Consequently, the identity of the subject can be determined in a state in which a vein that has a higher level of diversity than the palm print has been emphasized, and therefore the FAR can be reduced.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of hardware that configures the biometrics authentication device 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, hardware that configures the biometrics authentication device 1 includes a control unit 1201, a storing unit 1202, a recording medium reading device 1203, an input/output interface 1204, and a communication interface
1205, and these components are mutually connected via a bus 1206. The hardware that configures the biometrics authentication device 1 may be implemented by using a cloud or the like.

As an example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a multicore CPU, or a programmable device (a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) or the like) can be considered to be used as the control unit 1201. The control
unit 1201 corresponds to the region specifying unit 3, the feature extracting unit 4, the matching processing unit 5, and the score determining unit 6 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The storing unit 1202 corresponds to the storing unit 7 illustrated in FIG. 1, and examples of the storing unit 1202 include a memory such as a Read Only Memory (ROM) or a Random Access Memory (RAM), and a hard disk. The storing unit 1202 may
be used as a work area at the time of execution. In addition, another storing unit may be provided outside the biometrics authentication device 1.

The recording medium reading device 1203 is controlled by the control unit 1201 so as to read data recorded in a recording medium 1207 or to write data to the recording medium 1207. The recording medium 1207 that is removable is a
non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, and examples of the recording medium 1207 include a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, and a semiconductor memory. Examples of the magnetic recording device
include a hard disk drive (HDD). Examples of the optical disk include a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a DVD-RAM, a Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), and a CD-R (Recordable)/RW (ReWritable). Examples of the magneto-optical recording medium include
a Magneto-Optical disk (MO). Note that the storing unit 1202 is also included in the non-transitory recording medium.

The input/output interface 1204 is connected to an input/output unit 1208, and the input/output interface 1204 transmits information input by a user via the input/output unit 1208 to the control unit 1201 via the bus 1206. The input/output
interface 1204 also transmits information transmitted from the control unit 1201 to the input/output unit 1208 via the bus 1206.

The input/output unit 1208 corresponds to the image obtaining unit 2 illustrated in FIG. 1, and examples of the input/output unit 1208 include an imaging device. Examples of the input/output unit 1208 also include a keyboard, a pointing device
(for example, a mouse), a touch panel, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display, and a printer.

The communication interface 1205 is an interface for performing Local Area Network (LAN) connection or Internet connection. The communication interface 1205 may be used as an interface for performing LAN connection, Internet connection, or
wireless connection with another computer, as needed.

By using a computer having the hardware above, various processing functions performed by the biometrics authentication device 1 are implemented. In this case, a computer executes a program describing the content of the various processing
functions performed by the biometrics authentication device 1 such that the above various processing functions (for example, the region specifying unit 3, the feature extracting unit 4, the matching processing unit 5, and the score determining unit 6)
are implemented on the computer. The program describing the content of the various processing functions can be stored in the storing unit 1202 or the recording medium 1207.

In a case in which a program is distributed, the recording medium 1207 recording the program, such as a DVD or a CD-ROM, is sold separately, for example. The program can be recorded in a storage of a server computer, and the program can be
transferred from the server computer to another computer via a network.

The computer that executes a program stores, for example, the program recorded in the recording medium 1207 or the program transferred from the server computer in the storing unit 1202. The computer reads the program from the storing unit 1202,
and performs processing according to the program. The computer may directly read a program from the recording medium 1207, and may perform processing according to the program. Further, every time a program is transferred from the server computer, the
computer may perform processing according to the received program.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, an image processing device that performs authentication using a vein of a palm has been described as an example, but the embodiment is not limited to this, and any other feature detection region of a
living body may be used.

As an example, the other feature detection region of the living body is not limited to a vein, and may be a vascular image of a living body, a pattern of a living body, a fingerprint or a palm print of a living body, the sole of the foot, a
finger or toe, the back of the hand or the instep of the foot, the wrist, the arm, or the like.

When a vein is used for authentication, the other feature detection region of a living body may be any region in which the vein can be observed.

The existence of an other feature detection region of a living body in which biological information can be specified is advantageous to authentication. As an example, when a palm, a face or the like is used, a region can be specified from an
obtained image. In addition, various modifications to the embodiment above can be made without departing from the gist of the embodiment. Further, multiple variations or modifications to the embodiment above can be made by those skilled in the art, and
the embodiment is not limited to the exact configuration and applications described above.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, even when a method for physically separating a feature denoting a palm print from an image fails to be applied, an FAR can be prevented from increasing.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being
without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present
invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.